Watershed

Skeptics may initially decry the departure of Peter Lindgren, half of the progressive death metallers' infallible songwriting duo. But with guitar mastermind Mikael Akerfeldt solely at the helm, Watershed is an audacious experiment in sounds and textures. Mixing signature prog/metal arrangements with beautiful calmness, tracks like "Heir Apparent" show remnants of Opeth's previous work while taking large strides in new directions. "Coil" incorporates female vocals, while on "The Lotus Eater," eerie organ and background whispers and laughs add a solemn slyness.